City law firm boosts junior lawyer salaries to £189k in London
City PM
Published Jun 5, 2026 Reviewed Jun 30, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Effective 1 July 2026, Quinn Emanuel’s London associate salaries will rise 5 % with newly‑qualified lawyers earning £189,000 (up from £180,000) and with pay scaling to £205,000 for one‑year PQE, £231,000 for two‑year PQE, £273,000 for three‑year PQE, £289,000 for four‑year PQE, £305,000 for five‑year PQE, £320,000 for six‑year PQE, and between £331,000 and £373,000 for seven‑year PQE and above.
5 · overall salary increase189000 GBP · salary for newly‑qualified (NQ) lawyers180000 GBP · previous salary for newly‑qualified (NQ) lawyers205000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 1 year PQE195000 GBP · previous salary for lawyers with 1 year PQE231000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 2 years PQE273000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 3 years PQE289000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 4 years PQE305000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 5 years PQE320000 GBP · salary for lawyers with 6 years PQE331000 GBP · minimum salary for lawyers with 7 years PQE and above373000 GBP · maximum salary for lawyers with 7 years PQE and above
Quinn Emanuel, law firm
Quinn Emanuel increased salaries for its most junior lawyers by 5 % for the 2026 financial year.
5 · salary increase for junior lawyers
Quinn Emanuel, law firm
Ria Karnik said the pay discrepancy at the NQ level is around £40,000.
about 40000 GBP · pay discrepancy at NQ level
Ria Karnik, managing director at Major Lindsey & Africa
Quinn Emanuel has increased salaries for its most junior lawyers by 5 per cent for the 2026 financial year.
5 % · salary increase for junior lawyers2026 year · financial year
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
Effective from 1 July 2026, Quinn Emanuel's London associates' salaries will increase by 5 per cent, with newly-qualified lawyers set to earn £189,000, up from £180,000.
5 % · salary increase189000 GBP · salary for newly-qualified lawyers180000 GBP · previous salary for newly-qualified lawyers
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
Quinn Emanuel's London associates with one year of post-qualified experience (PQE) are set to earn £205,000, previously £195,000.
1 year · post-qualified experience205000 GBP · salary for lawyers with one year PQE195000 GBP · previous salary for lawyers with one year PQE
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
Quinn Emanuel's London associates' salaries are £231,000 for two years PQE, £273,000 for three years PQE, £289,000 for four years PQE, £305,000 for five years PQE, £320,000 for six years PQE, and between £331,000 and £373,000 for seven years PQE and above.
231000 GBP · salary273000 GBP · salary289000 GBP · salary305000 GBP · salary320000 GBP · salaryat least 331000 GBP · salaryat most 373000 GBP · salary
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
Quinn Emanuel increased its salary scales for its US associates yesterday.
1 day · time since US salary increase
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
In the US, Quinn Emanuel's most junior lawyers in the class of 2026 will earn $225,000 (£166,957).
225000 USD · salary for most junior lawyers166957 GBP · salary for most junior lawyers (GBP equivalent)2026 year · class year
Quinn Emanuel, Law firm
Ria Karnik stated that other members of the £180k NQ club might follow Quinn Emanuel's pay increases.
180000 GBP · NQ club salary
Ria Karnik, managing director at Major Lindsey & Africa
Ria Karnik noted that the pay discrepancy at this level sits around £40k.
about 40000 GBP · pay discrepancy
Ria Karnik, managing director at Major Lindsey & Africa
City-based law firm Quinn Emanuel has increased salaries for its most junior lawyers by 5 per cent for the 2026 financial year, as its London office aligns with pay increases at its US counterparts.
Effective from 1 July 2026, London associates’ salaries will increase 5 per cent across the board, with newly-qualified (NQ) lawyers set to take home £189,000, previously £180,000.
Those with one year of post-qualified experience (PQE) will pass the 200-mark, as they are set to take home £205,000 (previously £195,000). The rest follow: £231,000 for two PQE; £273,000 for three PQE; £289,000 for four PQE; £305,000 for five PQE; £320,000 for six PQE; and between £331,000 and £373,000 for those with seven PQE and above.
Quinn Emanuel’s London senior partner Richard East said, “We maintain our own salary scale in this marketplace and pay people in pounds sterling, but our aim is to retain the top litigation talent in London. We have increased our salaries across the board to ensure that we remain at or above the top of the market.”
This move follows Quinn Emanuel, which is a US law firm, increasing its salary scales for its associates across the Pond yesterday.
In the US, the most junior lawyers in the class of 2026 will be at $225,000 (£166,957), meaning that, under the current exchange rate, London’s junior lawyers are out-earning their American peers.
This move comes as one of its closest competitors, London-based Mishcon de Reya, was revealed by City PM to be offering its staff a ‘bonus boost’ for working additional hours to remain competitive.
The ‘salary war’ has been dominating the high end of the legal market for some years, as law firms try to remain competitive on price to attract the best talent after US law firms opened up to high salaries.
Ria Karnik, managing director at Major Lindsey & Africa, stated: “Now that Quinn has defined how the pay increases will impact their London associates, I wouldn’t be surprised to see other members of the £180k NQ club follow suit.”
“This move will also up the ante on the Magic Circle. Eyes will begin to fall on the increasingly glaring pay discrepancy at this level, which sits around £40k. If this does prompt a fresh NQ pay war, we could expect movement across the whole market,” she added.
